I just placed my order for a L3130 with remote valves. In reading the manual I noticed that there are two options for the valves, one has a float position. I was wondering under what circumstances you would use a float position on something controlled by a remote valve? They have not started configuring my tractor yet so I have time to get it right.

If it's for rear hydraulics I can't think of an application right off but float is almost essential on the lift circuit of a loader. A regenerative feature on the bucket valve provides fast dump that also might be a desirable feature if available.

For 3ph implements float on a tilt cylinder would automatically follow side grades but I think most 3ph's sort of do that anyway.

Tom, depending on the position your liftlinks are pinned you do have float. There are things that might enjoy float on a valve but you would have to be buying a fancy grader blade or maybe hydraulic up and down on on an attachment.

The flotation on the rear of the tractor works in the same manner as on the FEL. It allows the box blade to float evenly when the tractor is rising/falling. Nice option when doing a lot of box blading.

Thanks! I was pretty sure that my 3ph does float laterally over a fair range. The box scraper would work a little better for mild ditching if it didn't float. I recall discussion of some model JD where the feature is selectable. Somebody was quoting from their user's manual but I never heard any more about it.

Come to think of it my backhoe has a float on the boom but I haven't found it very useful.

A float function on the top-link of a 3PTH would be useful for any implement which extends back from the tractor by much and which you want to follow an uneven surface.

Doing things like dragging an implement like harrows over an undulating surface. This would be useful when using it on a gravel road for instance, without a top-link you would have no way to lift it for travel, but then it would prevent the implement from rotating on the lower links when you want it to in order to follow the surface. This could also be useful on something like a bush-hog, to allow it to flex with the terrain instead of overloading the hitch.

Tom, the float on the B/H is useful for things like cleaning off the bottom of a trench for footings. Once you have reached the proper depth you no longer want to affect depth, just clean it out, by putting the bucket bottom flat to the trench bottom and putting the boom in float position it will follow the trench perfectly regardless of the arc of the boom scraping the bottom clean easily.

Thanks for all the comments. I had an additional question. If you are using an HTL with a piloted check valve, wouldn't that defeat the float function on the controlling valve?

I guess that I don't see that I will ever have a future need to use an implement that would utilize the float function on the controlling remote valve. I think that the term auxillary valve would be more appropriate but I haven't seen it used.